This a true story about 2000 Jewish male refugees from Hitler's Germany, who were rounded up by the British because of fear of them being German spies and shipped off to a POW camp in Australia,where they teach the Aussies in charge of them a thing or two about Jewish culture.Bob Hoskins gives another great performance as a Jewish fishmonger born in England,who's just as British as Winston Churchill,but who gets rounded up with the rest.Alternating between drama and comedy,the film strikes a nice balance between the two.
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chinaskee5 September 2001
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khunkrumark21 December 2018Apart from the terrible Bob Hoskins, the notable cast does a good job with what little they are given.
A paranoid British government expelled about 2,500 'enemy aliens' on the HMS Dunera. The second world war had just started and in July 1940, the passenger ship departed Liverpool on a horrifying two-month journey to Australia. The whole fiasco was a terrible and shameful event and this long TV movie (or two part drama, depending on when and where it was broadcast) tells the story of what happened.
The horror, filthy conditions, maltreament and sadistic torture of these victims is overlooked in favor of a more theatrical account of the journey. While the film is effective as a drama, it is entirely ineffective as a historical document.
The running time is 150 minutes. If you embrace this production as it was intended, as a drama, it's thoroughly enjoyable. If you're looking for an account of the actual journey these poor people suffered, you'll be disappointed. -
Every now and again something comes down the line that seems just right. The Dunera Boys is a delightful combination of history, drama, comedy and pathos. The shabby treatment of the prisoners was a disgrace, their indestructible Jewish wit uplifting, and the blend of Australian and Jewish humor the work of a genius. The casting and acting is universally excellent with skillful camera work and a catchy signature tune. Ben Lewin has produced a number of similar gems but this is surely his masterpiece. Although originally a four part TV series, (and available on DVD as such), it also can be seen as an edited 150 minute movie. Catch it if you can.
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cj9954418 July 2010It's been a while since I saw this movie. I can't understand why this production is being touted as a "cult classic" but then I do have an axe to grind. My uncle was on the infamous voyage, as a 17-year-old boy.
One of the fewer than one hundred living survivors, or "Dunera Boys", he still refuses to talk about his experiences on the ship. Which is unusual for him, as he is generally very talkative. He does, however, keep in contact with some of the other "boys".
Anyway, back to the movie. For some grotesque reason, the playwright, Ben Lewin, decided to treat the episode as a farce. While there is a farcical element to the story, the suffering of the internees is paramount. And this is why I find the movie so offensive.
Nowhere in this movie will you see a hint of the overcrowding, the appalling sanitary conditions with the overflowing latrines, the foul anti-semitic abuse of the British troops, the chumminess with the few dozen fanatical German Nazis, the clubbing with rifles butts. Notorious incidents such as the prisoners being forced to dance on broken glass, the bayoneting of a prisoner in the stomach, and even the stripping of all the prisoners' possessions, including their identity documents and false teeth, are airbrushed out of the picture. No wonder the UK government has sealed all documents relating to this episode until 2040.
Despite the worthy cast, this movie skirts around the essence of what actually transpired. Movies are not newspapers, I realise: they don't have a duty to inform, but neither do they have a duty to distort history wantonly. I can't imagine any "Dunera Boy" would feel that the film has anything meaningful to say about their 57 days of living hell. -
brumbm185018 February 2006I have a VHS copy of this but it is a poor transfer. The film (originally seen on TV) is well worth seeing with an interesting and at times quite moving plot and fine performances, especially by Bob Hoskins, Warren Mitchell and Joseph Spano. It is surprising that it never seems to have been repeated either on TV or in the cinema. Far worse TV films seem to be dragged up from obscurity for a DVD release and I'm amazed this one hasn't been given the same treatment and transferred to DVD, it could become a cult classic! The performances of a host of Jewish character actors portraying the 'little Vienna' created in the East End of London (and again in the Australian Outback)is both amusing and reminds us that that the Nazis may have been (so far) the most egregious and extreme race haters but they didn't (and don't) have a monopoly when it comes to incomprehension and hostility towards asylum seekers!
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rosemarykerrison25 July 2016This is a very well used DVD but the story of these men caught up in a very unjust situation celebrates the resilience and wonderful spirit of these refugees. It would be wonderful if this story was revisited and replayed or remade to the present day audience of Australians. Its a wonderful story of hope and hints at the wonderful talents locked in the internment camp. It was heartening to see a very down to earth interaction towards one another {captive and captor }and the thoroughly human and decent way respect for one another grew as the story progressed, The movie was a delightful surprise and makes one think what talents we may have locked away in our present day detention centres.
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myaubooks30 July 2013I am offended by a previous review giving this a 1. This is an Australian made movie focusing on the relationships between the prisoners themselves and also the Australians. The whole situation was a farce from the start and if the previous reviewer had any understanding of Australians attitudes to the British military rule during both wars they might have a different opinion.
people forget Jews were not the only victims in ww2, many people from many nationalities also lost and each has their own way to remember or forget.
The movie does address issues that previous reviewer raises and is a must watch you will laugh cry and laugh again.